Rule-holder.



PATENTED JUNE 6,'1.905.

' W.'0. BELL. RULE HOLDER.

\ APPLIOAIION FILED NOV. 2,1904.

W/T/VE88E8: 'INVENTOR ici fi liam 0m Bell.

N I -BY v fi ATTORNEY:

UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

WILLIAM OTIS BELL, OF LOS AN GELES, CALIFORNIA.

RULE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,864, dated June 6,1905. Application filed November 2 1904- Serial No. 231,151.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

This invention seeks to provide a device of this character of a verysimple and eifective construction and which can be easily and cheaplymade.

The invention includes certain novel structural arrangement andcombination of parts, all of which will be first described in detail andthen specifically pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, by reference to which it will be seen thatFigure 1 is a perspective view of my invention as applied for use. Fig.2 is a perspective view of my invention, on an enlarged scale, the rulebeing removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section thereof, showing therule being inserted in full lines and in its inserted position in dottedlines. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on the lines 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectionon the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a View of the blank from which myholder is formed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals andletters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, it willbe seen that the holder 1 consists of a back plate 1, terminating in theupwardlyextending end 1*, whose extreme end 1 is bent over .to form atransverse tubular hinge member to receive the U-shaped securing member2. This member 2 consists of a pair of integrally-formed pins 2* 2 and atransverse connecting portion adapted to pass through the tubularmember 1. The pins 2 2 extend the full length of the plate 1 and arearranged 'to interlock with the guards 1 1 stamped out of the plate 1near its lower end. Integrally formed with the plate 1 are the sideportions 1 1 which are cut away, as at 1 to lighten the weight of theholder. The side portions 1 are formed with forwardlyprojecting portions1 1 for a purpose presently explained.

The plate 1 is formed with a lower extension adapted to be bent over atright angles thereto to form the bottom 1 of the holder 1, and the saidbottom 1 is cut away, as at 1, both to lighten the construction of theholder .as well as to permit the hinge r of the rule R to passtherethrough.

Projected upwardly from the bottom 1 and formed integrally therewith isthe front portion I which terminates in the upwardly curved or flaredportion 1 which portion 1 cooperates with the forwardly-projectingportions 1 1 of the sides 1 1 The bottom 1 and the front portions 1" 1are soldered or otherwise secured to the sides 1 1 to form a pockettherewith at the lower portion of the holder to receive the lower end ofthe rule R, whose hinge portion 1" projects through the bottom aperture,as shown in Fig. 1 and as heretofore mentioned.

At the upper ends 1 1 the sides 1 1 are bent over to form spring catchmembers 1 1 whose extreme portions are outwardly flared to permit of therule being placed in the holder and snapped into position. The catchmembers 1 1 are formed by bending over the edges of the side portions,as clearly shown in Fig. 6. To give the ends 1 1 the required strength,I form the same with transverse ribs 1 1 stamped therein, and aftertheside portions have been bent to form the catch members 1 1 the saidbent portions may be soldered to prevent'them becoming accidentallydisplaced or bent out of shape during the operation of the device.

'In practice the rule is inserted with its lower end in the pocket atthe lower end of the holder (see Fig. 3) and then moved in thedirection' of the arrow in Fig. 3 and snapped into the position shown inFig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the blank from which my improved holder is formedafter it has been stamped out and before bending into its final shape.

The holder can readily be secured to the garment of the operator by thepins 2 2 and held in such position as long as the pins have their endsengaging with the guard or lock members 1 1 hereinbefore referred to.

To remove the rule from the holder, it is only necessary to pull thesame out in the direction of the dotted arrow in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the complete operation,construction, and many advantages of my invention will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and Idesire to say that slight changes in the arrangement, design, andconstruction of parts may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention or the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A rule-holder comprising an elongated back plate and side plates, anapertu red bottom and a short upwardly-extending front plate to form apocket at the lower end of the back plate, said upwardly-extending frontplate having its upper edge outwardly flared, said side plates havingtheir upper ends formed into catch members, and means for securing theholder to a garment.

- 2. A rule-holder formed of a sheet-metal blank and comprising a backplate having its upper edge turned over to form a pin-receiving member,a pin passed therethrough, said back plate having an extension bent atright angles thereto to form a bottom, and an upwardly-projectingportion projecting from the bottom to form a front portion, said frontportion having its upper edge outwardly flared, side members, said sidemembers, said back plate and said bottom and front portions forming apocket at the lower end of the holder to receive one end of the rule,said side members having their upper portions formed into catchportions, and said side members being cut away between the catchportions and the pocket substantially as shown and described.

3. A rule-holder formed of a sheet-metal blank and comprising a backplate having its upper edge turned over to form a pin-receiving member,a pin passed therethrough, said back plate having an extension bent atright angles thereto to form a bottom, and an upwardly-projectingportion projecting from the bottom to form a front portion, said frontportion having its upper edge outwardly flared, side members, said sidemembers, said back plate and said bottom and front portions forming apocket at the lower end of the holder to receive one end of the rule,said side members having their upper portions formed into catch portionsand said side members being cut away between the catch portions and thepocket, and guard members stamped from the blank to receive the pinends, said catch portions being provided with ribs, and said bottombeing cut away to permit the hinge of the rule to project therethrough,substantially as shown and for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM OTIS BELL.

Witnesses:

CARRIE A. TAYLOR, W. E. SAWTELLE.

